Faux Mantel Diaries: The 5 Minute Display Shelf

This is the time of year when all you fancy people loooooove to showcase your gorgeous homes with seasonal decor strategically placed along wide, beautiful mantels. I see your cozy fireplaces topped with perfectly decorated shelves, rotating from pumpkins and gourds to turkey feathers and wheat stalks to evergreen swags and hurricane vases filled with cranberries.

WHY YOU GOTTA BRAG LIKE THAT?

Some of us don’t have fireplace mantels. Or, I should clarify: some of us have mantels but this is sitting above them:

But I digress. Ah, yes. The classic ‘should you put a t.v. above the fireplace’ discussion. If you know anything about me at all, you know I always advocate for defining your space YOUR way, doing what fits for your family. Which means that monstrosity totally took over my mantel with no room for decorating it with anything but remote controls, let alone cranberry filled hurricane vases (but at least that saves about 5 hours of dusting, am I right?)

However, after 5 years of blogging I’m suffering major mantel envy. After staring at this large, almost blank wall in my kitchen it hit me: I COULD DO SOMETHING HERE.

I didn’t want to do too much, because the simplicity of the wall keeps the kitchen from looking too cluttered. But let’s all agree is needed SOMETHING. And that something could be a mantel! WHO NEEDS A FIREPLACE, I’M DECLARING THIS A MANTEL FRIENDLY ZONE! But it needs to be narrow, because that wall is also an expressway for two speedy kiddos to run alongside. Hmmm… narrow wall shelf that doesn’t cost too much… LIGHTBULB!

After calculating that it would cost more to make it myself than just buy it, I had it installed on the wall in under 5 minutes. That’s right, 5 minuto-s. Just line up, level it, and drill baby drill!

But what about that ugly screw you say?

Oh IKEA, how I love you with your white dot stickers! So simple. So… well, let’s just stick with simple. Check out how narrow it is, no bumped heads! Note that I purposely placed it higher than normal to avoid that dreaded BUMPED-HEAD syndrome.

I considered adding two shelves, but then it wouldn’t be a mantel. Or a faux mantel. A Famantel. I kinda love how there’s just one.

Best of all, I was able to quickly load it up with seasonal accessories LIKE ALL YOU FANCY PEOPLE.

With antique vases…

and Dollar Store faux flowers that look just like the real ones I saw at Whole Foods last week

and feathers

and a toothbrush holder. (really).

I’m really looking forward to changing it with the seasons. I’m into simplicity, and simple holiday decor too, so I think slapping a few accessories on my shelf (AHEM, faux mantel) is about what I can handle.

So, all you mantel-less friends, there IS hope for the rest of us! $15 and 5 minutes? You’ve got this.

Now, what should I load it up with for fall? Hmmmmm….

Meet Carrie Higgins

Dreamer, thinker, + lemon squeezer; you'll usually find me clutching a mug of coffee, glue gun, fandeck of paint colors, and a child at any given time. This mom of two (and wife to one) loves to share freshly squeezed ideas for home and family. Join the adventure as we learn most lemons can indeed become lemonade-- with generous amounts of sweetness, perspective, and love.

Hi. We are putting up a Ribba shelf right now… or trying to, But we didn’t realize they don’t come with screws. We have to go to the hardware store to get some. Do you happen to remember which size you used for these? Would appreciate your help so much!! Thanks!

Hey there, welcome! I'm Carrie-- a dreamer, overthinker, + lemon squeezer, making it my mission to share fresh ideas for home and family. You'll usually find me clutching a mug of coffee, glue gun, fandeck of paint colors, and a child at any given time. Join the adventure as we learn most lemons can indeed become lemonade-- with generous amounts of sweetness, perspective, and love.